The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-10-27
# fine stock ever seen OF

Mr.. J. L. Stone, one of the most
successful advertisers in the State,
adopted q novel and most admirable
method of attracting the crowd to his
magnificent display of musical instru-
ments. Securing the Us pound
pumpkin of MI. W. G. Stronach, he
offered an organ as a prize to the for
tunate one who should guess the num-
Der of seeds it contained, and OF the
thousands who guessed, only one, Mr..
A. N. Butts, of Durham, happened to
name the lucky number-6l2. One
guessed GIL, and five others 6l3. We
learn that Mr.. Stone will give away a
magnificent $500 piano at u next
Fair.
S%auntering through the ladies' de-
partment, with it's dazzling and almost
bewildering display of handsome ar
t~icles, we were especially attracted by
feather work by Miss A. w. Duffy, of
Newbern, which would have done
credit to the skill of a professional
Partisan artist. Miss Helen Moore, of
Greenville, Pitt county, exhibited as
handsome piano cover as was ever
seen in the building. Little Mary
Palmer Mills, of Raleigh, showed
wonderful skill and taste in a crochet
dress for a doll-all in one piece.
Little Minnie Sewell, of Raleigh, with
| out the aid of lessons or instruction,
presented crayons remarkably we'll
executed. Master Frank n. Cook, of
Louisburg, sol of Hon. G. M. Cook,
aged IL years, exhibited crayons and
oil paintings which evinced remark
able talent. He should be cultivated
under the best Masters. Some lace
work by Mrs. j. N. Pogue, of Raleigh,
attracted universal attention and ad-
miration, as delicate a gossamer and
as perfect as machine work. A crayon
portrait of a child by Miss Roberta
Best, daughter of R. w. Best, was so
we'll executed that it looked like a
thing of life. The delicate embroidery,
the folds, and even the shades of the
folds in the dress, were most beauti-
fully and artistically brought out. We
saw among the relics an Atwood
coverlet, $50 years old, woven by a
girl l6 years of age and wonderfully
preserved. An elegant counterpart
made by Mrs. Rebecca Williams, of
Warren county, 100 years ago. We
shall endeavor to notice some of the
fine stock on exhibition as 0 as we
learn the winners of the premiums.
The ~gentlemanly bearing of Chief
Marshal Jones and his fine looking
body Of assistants was a subject of
remark at all times and places. Gov.
Scales, Capt. benson and Gen. Ran
som all made happy little speeches at
the opening of the Fair. The speech
of Col. T. M. Holt, at the reception of
the Trades Procession, we think was
the best speech of his life, and we
hope to publish it. The response by
W. n. Jones was we'll timed and gave
universal satisfaction. The reunion
of the veterans of the LIST N. G. Cavalry
was not largely attended, but it was a
genuine old-soldier greeting.
We share the general regret that
the untiring, unselfsh and patriotic
efforts of Col. W. F. Beasley, on be-
half of the old disabled soldiers of u
State met with no more encourage
ment. He has labored with a zeal
and devotion in this noble cause
worthy of all praise and admiration.
The State Farmers Institute, al
though disarranged by the weather,
was voted unanimously a big success.
Inspired by the evident and grand
success which must have signalized
this Fair in all it's departments, but
for obstacles beyond human control,
the friends of the Institution must 90
to work at once with renewed energy
and determination to make the State